He had a wonderful gait and seemed to have a mellow temperament; so, with US$500 less in my pocket, we returned home with this new horse, who I promptly named Shaggy. We let him loose in the field and soon discovered 2 problems. First, he didn’t like the other male horses, though he did like our one female horse – Louise. So we separated him from the boys (moved them to another field) and gave him Louise for his very own. Problem #1 solved.

But then we discovered that he liked his freedom and didn’t want to have anyone put a harness or halter on him – so he wouldn’t let anyone get near him. To resolve this, we had to “capture” him – several employees got on other horses and chased Shaggy, while attempting to use the lasso to contain him. In the end, they did manage to get a harness on him, but the employees, other horses, and Shaggy were all exhausted. After this happened twice, I stepped in and told these men, who had been around horses all their lives, that this would not happen again and that there had to be another way.

Remember, I was a not-so-young female with no real experience with horses, and I’m in what only can be described as a “macho” town with macho men who ride their macho horses. Their way worked, but, from my perspective, it required too much time and effort, and it did not seem good for Shaggy.

So, the “captures” stopped, and Shaggy and Louise were living happily in the field just below where the first buildings were being constructed by the local construction crew. I started going to the field every day with 2 bananas (peel and all – the horses love them!). Louise would come right over to me and gobble down a banana. Shaggy would watch from a distance of 100 feet or more while Louise consumed her treat, and then Shaggy’s treat because he kept his distance. Every day I went to the field, every day I fed Louise, every day I called Shaggy and tried to build trust. And every day Shaggy came a little closer.

And every day the construction crew watched me. And every day I prayed that Shaggy would come eat a banana so I could save face with the work crew. And to my utter delight and relief, after about a month, Shaggy came close enough to gobble down the apple I offered him. He immediately took off again, but that was the beginning. It was in this moment that I truly believed that I would be able to build enough trust with Shaggy to have him willingly allow me to put a halter on him eventually.

I continued to feed Shaggy and Louise bananas daily. Shaggy got comfortable with coming up to me. One day I put a halter on my shoulder and entered the field with my bananas. Shaggy spotted the halter and would not come over that day. He kept his distance, 100 feet or so. I repeated past behavior, feeding Louise the bananas every day, and Shaggy slowly worked his way back over to me. Finally, Shaggy willingly took the banana from my hand, even though I had the halter resting on my shoulder. Now Shaggy would let me pet him some before he took off, but never for very long.

The last step was offering Shaggy the banana while holding the halter out. Shaggy backed off again, but Louise kept eating and I kept offering. Slowly Shaggy moved closer. Eventually, Shaggy took the banana from me while I was holding the halter. After a number of repetitions, I then attempted to put the halter on Shaggy after he had eaten the banana. He was not willing the first few attempts, but I did not push; I wanted him to accept the halter willingly. One glorious day he agreed – he let me put the halter on, and I led him across the field in full view of the macho crew who clapped and congratulated me. Yes!

Postscript: Today Shaggy maintains some of his initial spirit. He, like the other horses, comes to the grain bucket each morning for his breakfast – at that time, our staff can put a halter on him, and he is a favorite with the guests. However, if there is no ride scheduled for the day, and he is returned to the field after breakfast, that is it for Shaggy for the day. He’s been fed and he’s loose, and he’s going to have fun – he does not make himself available to anyone for the remainder of the day. What a great horse!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gina Cronin – eco-preneur and avid world traveler – owns and operates a leading

Green Globe certified, TripAdvisor top rated eco-resort, restaurant and solar powered, off-the-grid life style project in Boquete, West Panama, near Costa Rica. http://www.ranchodecaldera.com .

by Elaine M. Hunter

When traveling takes you away from your kids, it’s natural to worry about their well-being. You may also have second thoughts about your trip or the job that keeps you on the go. With proper preparations, you can have peace of mind about your children and your travels. Here are 10 actions to take.

• Communicate – Help your child understand the purpose and importance of your trip.

• Choose a responsible child-care provider – Get referrals from family and friends, interview several candidates, check out references, and listen to your parental instincts.

• Plan meals in advance – Prepare and store meals for each day you’ll be away. Get ideas from websites that suggest dishes for a week or more.

• Organize baby supplies – Place your baby’s bottles, food, diapers, wipes and other necessities in areas where they will be easily seen by your child-care provider.

• Make personal grooming easy – Give your child a hairstyle or cut he or she can easily manage.

• Organize toys and books – Set your child’s favorite toys and books where they can be easily seen and used. If any toys are battery-operated, stock extra batteries.

• Give written instructions for healthcare – Make a list for your child-care provider of any food allergies, medications, and special medical needs your child has.

• Plan outfits in advance – Select clothes for your child to wear each day you’ll be away. Have older kids choose their own outfits.

• Stock personal care items – Make sure your child has toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, and other hygienic products.

• Provide contact information – Give your child-care provider several phone numbers where you can be reached.

Elaine M. Hunter is a mother of two and author of Parenting Away From Home: 301 Preparations, Tips, and Reminders.

Climb Baru Volcano – see Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at the same time!

On the day before Easter, several friends, a guide from Habla Ya, and I set out to climb Volcan Baru, in Boquete, Panama. The climb is approximately 14.5 kilometers, with a 6,000-foot elevation change, reaching the summit at 11,479 feet. It was a pleasant, sunny morning, and we set out at a steady pace; signs were random and infrequent, so it was hard to judge just how far we had gone or how far we had to go.

We wanted to be halfway before stopping for lunch, but we couldn’t find any signs to figure out where we were. We were tired and hungry and didn’t know how far we had come (later on, we discovered that we all were having the same thoughts at this time: “What did I get myself into, and will I be able to make it to the top?”). At this point the “road” (mostly loose gravel) was quite steep, and each time we turned around a bend, another steep section appeared.

Finally, we gave up on the marker and stopped for lunch. The food was key – a pretty basic sandwich on Bimbo bread (yes, that is the real name of the local bread), but we were hungry and tired and it tasted really good. A great little piece of chocolate to top it off, and we were on our way again. Just a few hundred feet past where we stopped for lunch, we found the marker we had been looking for, and to our great surprise, we discovered that we were actually 2/3 of the way up the mountain, and not 1/2 as we had thought. At that point, we all knew that we could finish the climb, and proceeded with enthusiasm.

An ATV passed us in the afternoon – this was Habla Ya’s ATV with our camping gear, sleeping bags, and dinner. How great is that? We only had to carry water and snacks in our backpacks, which hugely reduced the effort required to climb the mountain, and when we arrived at the campsite (1.5 km below the summit), all the gear and food was already there.

Except for a number of blisters, we all made it in good shape – 13 km in 6 1/2 hours. The weather was cool and clear at the camp grounds, but we were hot and sweaty, so it was perfect. We relaxed, helped to get our tents set up (though the Habla Ya team did most of the work), and munched on some snacks.

We then hiked the last 1.5 km to the summit. As we neared the summit, we arrived at “tower central,” an area consisting of a number of buildings and a plethora of cell and Internet towers.

Once past these towers, we had to climb the rocky area (about a 5–10 minute climb), which was challenging and required total concentration.

But our timing was perfect – the sun began to set just as we arrived at the summit. We were truly on top of the world, above a sea of white, puffy clouds.

The skies began to turn pink in the distance as the clouds danced around us. As the sun sank lower and lower, the colors became more and more vibrant, to the point where we were in total awe of the gift that Mother Nature bestowed upon us. The night sky replaced the vibrant colors, and we descended to the campgrounds for a well-earned dinner prepared by the Habla Ya team.

The food hit the spot and included a delicious fried rice with chicken, a Panamanean staple. After recounting our day’s adventures, we settled in for the night. At 11,000 feet, it was significantly cooler than the mid-80s I am used to, and I think it got down to the low 50s that night, but I’m not sure. I do know it got cold enough for me to shiver throughout the night, despite the claims on the sleeping bag that it would protect the user down to freezing point.

We arose early the next morning and, with difficulty, climbed the 1.5 km to the top again. We were definitely sore from the day before, and it was very noticeable in those first 15 minutes, until our bodies adjusted. We arrived up top just after sunrise, and it was clear on the Pacific side and mostly cloudy on the Atlantic side, though we were able to see land briefly.

We returned to the campgrounds, ate a hearty breakfast, and began our descent. We had heard that going down was more difficult than going up, and eventually I came to believe that, as did the rest of the group. The first 1/3 of the way down was pretty smooth, and we were still high from what we had experienced at the summit. The road consisted mostly of loose gravel, which was difficult to navigate, especially on the steeper portions of the road. Even with walking sticks (and for me, the arm of Victor, our guide), it was difficult to stay on 2 feet and most of us had an unexpected “sit down” at some point during the descent. It took nearly as long to get down as to go up, much to the surprise of all of us. We all had achy knees, along with many other aching body parts, but it was well worth every ache and pain. What an awesome experience!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gina Cronin – eco-preneur and avid world traveler – owns and operates a leading Green Globe certified, TripAdvisor top rated eco-resort, restaurant and solar powered, off-the-grid life style project in Boquete, West Panama, near Costa Rica. http://www.ranchodecaldera.com

For earlier generations, the word “vacation” meant getting away, changing surroundings, and breaking the routine. But today, our mobile devices may be obliterating those definitions. You see it at the hotel pool – with a teenager talking endlessly on the cell phone while she tans. You see it at Disneyland while the family enjoys a ride – dad’s standing in the shade checking his email. And you see it at the beachside bar in Hawaii – over there – the young executive with the tropical drink with the tiny umbrella sitting next to his open laptop.

The actual idea of completely getting away, losing contact, and being unplugged is becoming extinct for a generation that’s grown up digital. The question is – how does being in constant contact impact the benefit of a vacation? Sure we can wear a bathing suit or sit on the beach, but are we able to relax when we’re worried about an important email, feel the need to respond to an online report, or answer questions from the boss?

Indications are, we’re actually adapting to this 24/7 connection, although it may not be in the way we’d like. Remember multi-tasking? Back in the 90’s, we thought it was the answer to life itself. After all, why be content to do one thing when we can finish three at the same time? But recently we discovered the only thing multi-tasking does is to help us do a lot of things badly.

I think we’ll learn the same thing when it comes to staying connected on vacation.

Back in the P.D. (Pre-Digital) era, I cherished weekends. Being a writer and media producer, I avoided anything to do with writing or producing over the weekend. I spent time with the family, sleeping late, hiking, antique hunting, church, and more. I loved the break. And by Monday morning, I was eager to jump back into writing and producing, and I did it with a vengeance.

But since I crossed the digital divide, I’ve discovered it’s different. Over the weekend, I never quite leave my email or blog, and my mobile phone keeps me in touch with the office 24/7. Carrying a mobile device in my pocket means that I answer it anytime it rings or vibrates – much like an ankle bracelet the police use with someone on house arrest.

But I can’t help but believe that a “connected” vacation isn’t really a vacation at all. The concept of taking a holiday means that we clean out the cobwebs of worry, stress, and concern about work issues, so that we return to the office refreshed and ready to rock. But being constantly connected to the mothership slowly drains our ability to recharge. As a result, we eventually find that the value of the time off wasn’t really beneficial at all.

So this summer, take a real vacation. The kind of break that disconnects you from the routine, the demands, and the stress of work. Go with the intention of flushing your mind of the residue of obstacles, frustrations, and failures you’ve encountered over the last year.

As a creative professional, I need break. A complete break with my normal working life. Like the reset button on a computer, a real break changes everything and gives me a new perspective on life.

Think about it. Really get away. Put down the phone. Turn off the email. Discover the joy of being with friends and family. In the process, you might just re-discover your real purpose for living – and chances are, that purpose will have very little to do with a mobile device.

Phil Cooke is a media consultant and author of the new book “Jolt! Get the Jump on a World That’s Constantly Changing” (April 2011, Thomas Nelson). Find out more at philcooke.com.

New Device That Can Detect Security Risks Without Invading Privacy

In the pre-9-11 world, getting on a plane was as easy as emptying your pockets and walking through a metal detector. In the post-9-11 world, airline passengers must take off their shoes, their belts, empty their pockets and be subjected to invasive body scans and pat-downs that add dignity and privacy to the price of an airline ticket.

But a new Star Trek-like handheld scanner may signal the end to some of those more invasive security checks.

“Benjamin Franklin once said that those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety,” said Mitchel Laskey, CEO of Brijot®, maker of the AllClear™, a handheld screening device that the company claims can scan for security risks without pat-downs or invasive imaging. “While I can’t disagree with the idea of using security screening to make our airways safer, I knew that there had to be a better way than taking naked pictures of people or patting them down like common criminals. That’s why we developed the AllClear.”

The AllClear is a handheld, battery-powered, passive millimeter wave people screening device that detects metallic and non-metallic objects and provides an alternative to the need for pat-downs, according to Laskey.

“The AllClear addresses the world’s need for concealed item detection while protecting the safety and privacy of people being screened,” Laskey said. “Instead of being a metal detector that only looks for metal objects, or an imaging device that takes a picture, it uses millimeter waves to detect concealed objects. Millimeter waves are naturally occurring forms of electromagnetic wave energy ranging from approximately 30 GHz to 300 GHz or 1 mm to 10 mm in wavelength. The AllClear is a passive millimeter wave system, so the AllClear measures the natural millimeter wave energy naturally generated by bodies and objects, enabling screeners to detect anomalies without the need for a pat-down or an imaging scanner.”

The new technology enables the device to detect without ever touching the person being screened:

• Metallic objects

• Liquids

• Solids

• Powders

• Explosives

• Currency (paper)

• Ceramics

• Drugs (various types)

• Contraband (including CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray discs, cell phones, etc.)

“The AllClear’s passive millimeter wave system is different from other scanners that use active millimeter waves, so there is no radiation involved with the screening,” Laskey added. “It poses no health risks, so it’s safe for everyone, including children, pregnant women, and people with pacemakers.”

According to the company’s website (www.brijot.com), the device does not need to be in contact with a person’s body. All surfaces of a person can be scanned without contact — including the hair, top of head, chest, arms, sides, groin area, legs, and ankles. Laskey added that the device could not only end the lion’s share of invasive security procedures, but also speed up the lines at airport security checkpoints.

“The AllClear only requires one operator, minimal training, and is easy to use,” he said. “The time it takes to screen a person using the AllClear is similar to using a handheld metal detector and takes less time than a pat-down. What’s more, it’s not just for airports. It can be used anywhere security measures are taken to keep the public safe – schools, public buildings, courthouses, concert venues, theme parks and more. We think that it’s time Americans feel safer again, without having to give up their privacy or dignity to do it.”

Mitchel J. Laskey leads Brijot Imaging Systems as president and chief executive officer and also serves as a member of its Board of Directors. For more than 30 years, Laskey has held executive management and leadership positions for public and private companies, with extensive experience in developing entrepreneurial high-tech companies and working closely with their institutional private equity investors.

“I love interacting, supporting and empowering people in any way,” says Maria, who has been involved in business and social organizations in both Marbella and Vienna. Her weblogs from those cities are now creating “bridges between people” on a global scale: readers in more than 70 countries visit the sites.

Maria is one of the few former United Nations staff members singled out for special reference and has an outstanding reputation as the former president of the Vienna International Center Society for Conscious Living. Returning to Vienna after five years of living in Marbella, she is now expanding her creative ideas, concept and team. She is fortunate to enjoy the support of some of the best editors, contributors, and associates – people as passionate about the work as she is. For more information about the Best of Vienna-Marbella team and network please have a look at: http://www.thebestofviennablog.com/about-us/ and http://www.thebestofviennablog.com/our-network/

The Best of Vienna-Marbella weblogs form a growing social network with free online magazines currently promoting Vienna and Marbella from A-Z. Our aim is to support and promote only the best artists, associations, businesses, cultural highlights, charities, events, golf, health facilities and therapists, hotels, professional services, properties, restaurants and cosmopolitan lifestyle. We also provide local sightseeing tips and photos. We are committed to client service – that which serves one – serves all. We seek to establish long-term associations and friendships with those who can provide excellent services (or products) to our readers. Our team of resourceful contributors holds an extensive network of valuable contacts, both local and global. For Vienna non-German speakers or Marbella non-Spanish speakers, we offer trusted professionals who are able to help them during their sojourn in those cities. It is our goal to feature the most beautiful places in our cities and provide useful information to the visitors and residents alike.

We are working together to make “The Best of” weblogs the most exclusive, selective and most complete sources for information on cities and regions around the world. The Vienna and Marbella websites are the templates for future websites: The Best of Moscow, Bratislava, Montenegro, Malta, Capri, Gibraltar, Paris, London, Dubai, Ibiza, South Africa and many more. We will include these and other locations under the umbrella websites “The Best of the World” and “The Best of Travel”. Therefore, we are always looking for partners, sponsors, and reliable businesses with top quality services to promote through our network.

We increasingly discover talented and gifted performers or artists who deserve a prominent place on the global stage and are glad to share their work with our readers. In keeping with our commitment to social responsibility, we are proud to promote peace in the world through local and international charities and multicultural events and artists that we support.

“The Best of Vienna” is the sister website of “The Best of Marbella”- one of the “101 female blogs in the world to watch in 2009″ according to WE Magazine for Women in the USA. We have been developing the concept, creating the content and expanding the network until now, but the best is yet to come! The new era will start in August 2011 when we re-launch our websites.

Please feel free to connect with us through our websites or social networks. Recommend our websites to anyone who is visiting (or living) in Vienna or Marbella – we want them to see the most beautiful aspects of our cities! Please contact us if you wish to promote your events, services, products or venues in these special cities or to request any further information.

The Best of Vienna-Marbella can be found on:

www.thebestofviennablog.com

www.thebestofmarbella.com

Edited by

Mae Lim-Banda Cayir and Karen Bentley Bales, Arts and Culture Correspondents ~ The Best of Vienna Blog

Rand McNally’s Travel Experts Report Consumers Are Increasing Spending on Travel

Despite economic softness, consumers don’t want to miss another vacation this winter!

Although concerned about the economy, consumers are steadily increasing spending on vacations, according to the fourth quarter 2010 Tripology Trend Report from Rand McNally.

The report, which is updated and released each quarter, shows consumers’ destination preference, budget, type and length of trip and travel agent usage trends collected by Rand McNally’s on-line travel specialists, better known as Tripologists.

Traveler’s budgets have increased 25% from Q4 2009 to Q4 2010, with an all time high of $5,768 spent per trip. Although conscious of economic realities, consumers still prioritize spending on life-event trips such as Honeymoons and Anniversaries, and time with family.

Consumers are continuing to plan 120 days prior to trip, and 75% are planning for trips of eight days or less. Long weekend trips represent 30% of all online bookings.

Top 10 city destinations requested continues to be led by Las Vegas, Orlando, Cancun, and Miami – consistent for the past four quarters. Los Angeles makes its debut in the top 10 this quarter.

From a regional perspective, Western Europe and Africa continue to trend positively, as they have in the prior quarter.

“Consumers are still traveling, and increasingly are interested in having a travel expert assist them. With Tripology, our company is able to offer unique on-line and off-line advice,” said John T. Peters, VP/GM Digital Strategy & Travel for Rand McNally.

Travelers may reach Tripologists to plan their trip with the click of a button at www.randmcnally.com or directly at www.tripology.com.

For a copy of the Quarterly Trend Report, please e-mail press@tripology.com.

About Rand McNally – Rand McNally is the most trusted source for maps, directions, and travel content. Rand McNally’s products and services include: Interactive travel service, Tripology; America’s #1 Road Atlas; IntelliRoute® truck routing software and GPS devices; and the leading geography-based educational resources for the classroom. Consumers, businesses, truckers, and educators depend upon Rand McNally to help navigate today’s world. www.RandMcNally.com

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With the arrival of the holidays comes sometimes treacherous winter driving conditions.

To keep safe this season, Rand McNally’s editors have pulled together the Top Ten Tips for Safe Winter Road Travel:

1. Know the differences among various winter weather advisories. The National Weather Service issues several cautions; understand what they mean before you hit the road:

a. Winter weather advisories are for conditions that may be hazardous, but should not become life threatening when using caution.

b. Winter storm watches mean that severe winter conditions may affect your area and are issued 12-36 hours in advance of major storms.

c. Winter storm warnings mean a storm bringing four or more inches of snow/sleet is expected in the next 12 hours, or six or more inches in 24 hours.

d. Blizzard warnings mean snow and strong winds will produce blinding snow, deep drifts, and a life-threatening wind chill.

2. Let someone know your timetable and travel route. This is especially important if you’ll be driving in areas with little traffic, rural locations, or large park areas.

3. Prevention is the best medicine: Driving slowly and maintaining plenty of room between you and the next car is the easiest way to avoid accidents. We all want to get to Christmas dinner faster but that extra 30 minutes could save your life. In bad weather, allow for three-to-12 times more stopping distance depending on the size of your vehicle.

4. Stock your car with a shovel, broom, ice scraper, jumper cables, blankets, flashlight, warning devices (flares), sand or kitty litter, and high-calorie non-perishable food.

5. Keep spare, charged batteries for cell phones in your car. Duracell and others make instant chargers for popular phones such as the iPhone. If your car battery dies, you will be glad you spent the extra $15 to reach help. If you regularly travel to very remote areas where cell towers are few and far between, consider investing in a satellite telephone or an in-car service like On-Star.

6. Keep your gas tank full to prevent the fuel line from freezing. Also, make sure the windshield wiper fluid reservoir is full.

7. Check to make sure your lights and windshield wipers are functioning properly. In most states it is illegal to drive if either is malfunctioning; and in certain weather situations it is also extremely unsafe.

8. Know your health insurance plan’s emergency care policies. What kind of doctors can you visit? If you have in-network benefits what happens if you need medical care beyond your home city or state? Are you charged differently for treatment at a hospital emergency room (without being admitted) or an emergency walk-in clinic?

9. If you get stuck in the snow, stay in your car – it’s your best shelter. Don’t leave unless help is within 100 yards.

10. Nearly 60% of accidents are the result of improper driving. Whether you’ve had a bit too much pie or a bit too much pilsner, don’t drive until you are fully awake and not impaired by anything. Most adults know well enough not to drink and drive, but few realize accidents are just as easily caused by being drowsy or impaired by legal drugs like cold medicines. When in doubt, pull to the side of the road or check into a motel for a quick nap.

And a bonus point: carry a first aid kit in the car with you. This is especially important if you have children or the elderly riding with you.

For more travel suggestions, or for maps and directions, visit www.randmcnally.com.

Learn more at www.ThrivalKits.com

There are only 12 shopping days before Christmas! BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE WE MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN HOLIDAY GIFT-GIVING GUIDE TODAY!

It’s one of the top ten “least-favorite-mandatory-tasks” in life. It has to be done, and it has to be done well. In my business, we offer the service of packing because if it’s not done well, the consequences can be miserable.

There are so many things to consider – the venues, the objective of your voyage, the people you will encounter and might encounter, the activities that are planned and that might happen, the weather [and the potential weather], the culture of the destination, the airline fees for luggage, the amount of time that you may have to carry/wheel your suitcase, the importance of comfort vs looking your best; the list could be continued for hours…the reason for this commentary is your trip depends on how good you look! (..which substantiates how you feel).

Think about it – the last time you had that feeling of looking really good: people treated you differently; you carried yourself taller. The issue is packing the right pieces in order to meet the objective of the trip…and not going into bankruptcy with baggage fees.

The very first step is evaluating what needs to be accomplished: nail the account, get the promotion, land the job, change the idea, research and investigate information, visit a landmark, attend a social event, etc… This step is to take the time to consider the appropriateness of your attire, accessories and overall presentation. If you are on a business trip, you need to represent the company image. If you are on a social journey, consider that you represent not just yourself, but your hometown, your culture, your school, etc…To be specific, if you are visiting Yosemite National Park, you might opt for unwrinkled shorts that fit and flatter paired with a coordinating top and comfortable hiking boots, rather than simply an outfit that wasn’t well thought out. Many do not give effort or energy to an outfit on vacation outside of comfort which leads to a disheveled look – not great for the photo album. This certainly doesn’t mean that you have to look ‘decked’ – it means that a polished look of comfort is preferred.

The second step is to consider the weather and what the weather might bring. Everyone knows the drill, for possible rain, bring whatever rainproof gear you need – if you do, it is certain to be sunny, but if you don’t, expect torrential downpours. Everyone in New England knows to bring sweatshirts for the evenings…but not this summer: they were left folded on the shelves. On the other hand, Mother Nature had a mood swing in the Rockies: despite predictions in the mid fifties, last Saturday night dropped to 31*F! Needless to say, the strapless dress that was planned for a wedding was hid by a fur stole that was never removed the entire night. Obviously, shopping is fun [and necessary], but this article is about packing – therefore, we always suggest layers. The best way to do this is to go from light interior to dark exteriors…

The last step is to make ensembles that include the absolutely necessary and then recycle the outfit using different pieces and accessories. We advise our clients to dress as nicely as possible without sacrificing comfort during travel because you never know what influential person you may meet. One of the greatest ways to get upgraded to first class is to look like you already belong there. A dark colored wool gabardine blazer, crisp cotton button front shirt, polished belt and designer jeans with loafers is a common ensemble for travelling. Although this blazer should not be used for an important meeting –we suggest suits for important meetings- it would be re-used for an informal meeting or dinner. Additionally, that crisp cotton shirt could now be placed under a cardigan with trousers and belted, etc…most pieces should be re-used at least once.

In closing, do not forget to pack the carry-on for the infamous ‘lost bag syndrome’…there’s nothing like having clean underwear and a fresh change of clothes when you have no suitcase. And no matter what, don’t forget the accessories: they’re light and transform the blah to chic.

What’s the point in travelling if you can’t feel accomplished and chic?

Once a week we would eat at the diner in town. The cook was a well cushioned man with quick hands and an easy smile. He moved with practiced expertise from pan to grill flipping and turning in time to the country music on a nearby radio. Out of that small kitchen he produced the most delicious country gravy, thick and rich with sausage and freshly ground black pepper. This was served generously over practically everything on the menu, including, I believe, cottage cheese. Artery hardening, fat laden and absolutely fabulous.

Locals in overalls and a wide variety of hats, from well-worn straw to ball caps, gathered at their usual tables sipping dewy iced glasses of sweet tea while discussing the weather, the crops and morsels of local gossip.

From time to time an errant cockroach would make its way across a tabletop weaving an uneven trail across a rather sticky surface. Colorful stuff.

More often than not during that sultry summer tornado warnings were issued. Never having any experience with them, but a full understanding of what they could wreak, this made me nervous. A kind of “Tom Terrific” looking tornado would be displayed on the TV screen when the atmosphere was conducive to producing this type of activity. If the touchdown of a funnel became imminent, an alert was issued and you needed to head for shelter. We didn’t have a storm cellar, so my instructions, should this occur, were that I was to lie down in the bathtub accompanied by the dog and cat and pull a mattress overall. Now, the dog and the cat tolerated each other under normal circumstances but were by no stretch of the imagination close friends. Also, we had a king size mattress so somehow it seemed that if I did manage to drag it off the bed, it wasn’t going to fit through the door in the bathroom. Weighing these options I felt my chances better roughing out the storm. Fortunately, I never had to find out.

Fish was a staple for us while living there. My husband at the time was an excellent fisherman and when requested could usually provide dinner with his pole and line. He told of story of living in St. Charles, Louisiana. He and a friend took their pirogue (pee-row), which is a small flat-bottomed boat, out into the bayous to do some serious line hanging and beer swigging. Casting their lines, they popped a couple of cool ones, leaned back, and hauled in their catch as required, then attaching the fish to a stringer dangling over one side of the boat. Late in the afternoon, when both men were intermittently nodding off, a strong tug came on the stringer. Lazily my ex hauled it up to check it out, and in doing so flipped a large cotton mouth at their feet, its mouth firmly attached to one of the fish. The story being told they nearly beat each other to death with the oars leaving a hole in the boat. The snake, probably assuming they were recently escaped mental patients, helped himself to the stringer and disappeared under water. Completely sober, red-faced and fishless they bailed their way back to the dock.

Really what we will take out of this life will be people we love, people who have loved us and the experiences we have had or shared. Thanks for letting me share mine.

Scallops with Garlic and Coriander

20 scallops
2 courgettes
6 T butter
1 T vegetable oil
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 T hot chili sauce
juice of 1 lime
1 bunch chopped fresh coriander

Remove muscle and wash scallops. Slice in the courgettes. Melt butter in the oil in large frying pan. Add courgettes and fry until soft. Remove from pan. Add garlic and fry until golden. Stir in hot chili sauce.

Add scallops to the sauce stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes. Stir in lime juice, coriander, and courgettes. Serve immediately.